Show loader



i Dec. 27, 1927.

' L6543H L. SCHWENKE sNow LOADER Filed Aug. 51, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [f3/Q o) s l j o I* N x l EQ M !1. w g1 ifm@ :115m l ,L'LI *H Dec. 27s H927.

' A. L. scHwENKE 16543u SNOW LOADER Filed Aug. 3l, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 14 12 \-l -PEBL 24' E g g 56 M557' In ven ior.

d ff Z, Jc//Wf/y/ff ALFRED L. SCI-IWENKE, OF PORTLAND, IiIAINE.

snow LOADER.

Application filed August 31, 1925.

My invention involved herein relates to the removal of snow from streets and particularly to its transportation to other' points where jitcan be dumped. The'problem of handling snow in metropolitan districts particularly', hasbecome aV very serious one not only on account lof thev expense involved in handling it but by reason of the obstruction of traffic and the delays in business.

VIn northern climates if snow is not re# moved from the streets with considerable promptness it is very apt to become packed or frozen-especially wherehthere is considerable traic which tends to compact, rut and otherwise put the snow in condition where it is difficult to remove even with great labor.

My invention therefore contemplates means for very rapidly taking up the snow so that it can be removed before it has reached a condition as above suggested.r To this end I provide a mobile apparatus capable of very rapidlytaking'up the snow in continuous strips or, ridges whereby streets may be cleared promptly and gutters opened andthe thoroughfare made availablefor trafiic. VVarious features of my invention are capable of somewhat varied embodiment, but for the purposes of disclosure herein I have shown a machine well adapted Ato practical useandcapable of construction and operation at reasonable cost. Such I have shown in the accompanying drawings, to which I shall: make reference bythe usevof eharacters similarly appliedthroughout specificationan'd drawings to indicate corresponding Y parts. In the drawings:

Figfl is a side elevation accordance with' my invention.

Fig. 2 a planfview thereof.

Fig'. 3 isV aview of the shovel member.

Fig. 4f a section on the line 4 4, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 yis a plan view partly in section on thc vline 5-5, vof Fig. 1. f

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section of the forward end of the machine, and

Fig. 7 a plan view of the upper drive connection for the conveyor screw.

In construct-ing my apparatus I preferably provide a frame or body composed of longitudinal beams 1 covered lby a forward platform or deck 2 and cross coupled at the rear by a cross beam 3 which is detachably pinned to the end of the longitudinal beam 1. The frame is preferably mounted on rear runners 4 and a pair of forward runners 5 which are swiveled as at 6 in a suitable head ofy apparatus in Serial No. 53,508.

bearing in which they are free to turn subject to the limitati-ons of the chain 7. 'I'o the rear of the deck the frame is open for the reception of a tractor, as indicated at T in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Such a tractor when admitted through the rear cross head i?) is shackled to it as 8 for draft purposes. I preferably carry on the rear ofthe machine a scraper 9 drawn on links 10 for leveling oft' the snow after the plow has cleared the way. l

Mounted on the forward deck 2 is a frame comprising a vertical column 11 and a forwardly extending member 12 which rests on a turntable 13 supported on rollers 131 which bear on the deck 2. The turntable 13 has a central bearing. 14 so that the entire superstructure turns on llas' a pivot, the rea-r column 11 being provided with a roller 1l1 so that it is free to swing while supporting thc rear of the superstructure.

To the forward edgeof the member 12 of this superstructure, which edge is inclined at about 1.0, I attach a" conveyor tube 15 which extendsdownwardly adjacent to the normal street level with just sufficient clearance at its lower end so that when the scoop 16 is tipped up as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,'the machine can be moved freely from' place to place. The'scoop 16 is pivoted to the chute 15 as at 161 and is provided with a segment and pawl 16" for locking it in place when in operating position.

Journaled in suit-able bearings at either end of the tube 15 is a conveyorshaft 17 carrying a spiral blade 18. Atitslower end it is provided with a propeller like device 19 adapted to'break up the snowand present it to the conveyor by which itis carried upward vto the upper end of the superstructure. The propeller shaft 17 is driven by a gear 2O which meshes with a pinion 21 on a shaft 22 which in turn is driven by a` pair of gears 23, 24, the latter being on a shaft 25. The shaft 25 has at its lower end a large bevel gear 26 which is driven by a pinion'27 on a shaft 2S. This shaft is connected by a universal joint connection 29 with the end of the crank shaft 30 of the tractor T. The tractor T therefore not only moves the device on its runners on the street, but provides the power for the conveyor.

On the opposite end of the shaft 28 from the pinion 27 is a pinion 31 geared to a crank shaft 32 on which there is a crank 33 for cranking the motor of the tractor when the tractor is in position within the frame of the machine.

On the shaft 22 are a pair of p inions 34, 35, which drive countershaft 36 Which'is connected by chain and sprocket to a conveyor shaft 37 in a trough 38. The pinions 34:, 35, constitute a reversing` mechanism for the shaft 36 by any suitable reversing lever (not shown). The large gear26 is free on the shaft ,25 and controiled by a clutch operated by a hand lever 4Q. Theconveyor drives may therefore be stopped or started .independently of the, tractor. y t

In operation`,f with the shovel or scoop 1,6 inthegposition shown ,in fulllines in Fig. l, the machine may beadvanced along,r the street taking yup 4the snow that vis to be removed. lIf Ythe snovv fall is relatively light. and .not of too greatdepth. the street may be first ploived ,to throw' the snoiv up in ridges, preferab'ly of about the Width ofthe scoop... In this Way light fall` of snoiv may be very rapidly'talren up without. needless trips back and forth or in case' of an impending' bliz- Zard, the'snoiv eanrbe taken up as it falls.

As the snow enters. the scoop it has atenw dencyto compact against the conveyor tube l5 which approaches itat an angle. At'this point it is beaten apartand thrown up- Wardlyagainst the loiver partof the conveyor blade l8`1vhich carries itupand drops itintothe trough. 38 in which the'transverse conveyor 381' is Working. AsV Will be noted inthe plan view in Fig'. 2, the trough. 38is adaptedto receive at either end a chute 41 so that the snowY can -be' discharged. laterally of the machine either into other vehicles, for taking itaivay, or tothe side of. the road,.it such should be expedient for the purpose, the transverse conveyor shaft 37 beingv driven in the direct-ion desired by the reversing gears 34,35. l A

1 As will be seen Vfrom )the foregoing, such a machine isv simple and inexpensive to build andvcanubeproduced in sutlicient numbers to deal `Wit-h even more eXtreme snowconditions Witlrwliich the street department may have to. contend. They are easy to operate and ineXpensiveto maintain. The adjustment of the turn table 13 permits the scoop 16 to ivorlreitlier direct-lyk in frontl of the machine,

as shown inffulll lines in F ig. 2, or to Work 1 at one side as shownrin dotted lines. This is often very convenientin the case of heavy `snows or partly bare ground, as it permits out'departing from the spirit of myl inven-k tion if Within the limits'of the appendedV claims... .Y Y

What I therefore 4claim and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent is: I K

1;. ln a snow remover,.a supporting frame,

a .head pivotedwftl'iereon for rotation on ay varied and connections modified to suit the` vertical axis, yan. inclined conveyor chute, a.

scoop at-the end of saidA chute, a spiraleonveyor inl saidchute, a cross conveyor ad jacent the upper endy of the; first named conveyor, and means for driving said conveyors, including meansfor `reversibly driving the cross conveyor. f .g 2. IIna snoiv remover, a supporting frame, a.head pivoted thereon for rotation .on a vertical. axis, an.v inclined eonveyorschute, a scoop at theend of said chute, a spiral conveyor in said chute, a bladed` snow breaker atthe Vloivei` end oflsaid conveyor disposed adjacent therear ofthe chute, a crosscon.- veyor adjacent. the upper end of thev first named,conveyor,.and means .for drivingr said conveyors, including Y means for reversibly driyingthe cross conveyor. i 3.,. ln a snow remover,.a .supporting frame, ahead, pivoted..lthereon for rotation on a vertical axis, ,anyinclined conveyor: chute, a scoop iat the end of said4 chute,a conveyor in said chute, a cross conveyor' `adjacent the upper.v end lof the firstfnained conveyor, and means f for driving said. conveyfors,inc1uding a terminal connect-ion alignable Wit-hl the engine shaft of a4 Apovver machine ldisposedin motiv-erelative thereto. 1

In testimony whereof Iv affix my signature. ALFRED L. SCHWENKE. y 

